London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
West Ham 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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All 26 samples were tested for milk solids and proved satisfactory.
The number of samples of condensed full cream sweetened milk
submitted for examination was five. Of these one was examined
for the equivalent and proved satisfactory. In addition, this
sample and the other four were tested for the fat and milk solids
content. All proved satisfactory. Of seven samples of condensed
full cream milk unsweetened submitted for the purpose of testing
the equivalent, all proved satisfactory.
Ice Cream.
During the year, 26 samples of ice cream were obtained
from shopkeepers and itinerent vendors and submitted for
bacteriological examination. Table X gives the results of these
examinations.
Table X.
Bacteriological examination of ice cream.
| Source of sample. | Bacterial content per millilitre. | Total. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 | 500,000 | 1 million and over. | ||
| Shopkeeper | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Itinerant vendor | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | l6 |
| Totals | 2 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 26 |
In all cases of unsatisfactory results, letters of warning
were sent and the premises inspected generally, special attention
being given to the utensils. In every case subsequent samples
proved satisfactory.
Late in the year the West Ham Corporation Act, 1937,
became operative, section 67 of which requires all premises used
for the purpose of the sale or manufacture of ice cream to be
registered. One hundred and forty-nine applications for this
purpose have been dealt with and in one case the application was
refused.
Upon receipt of an application for registration, the premises
are inspected by the sanitary inspectors, who give all possible
assistance and advice regarding the suitability of the premises.
288